Heya! Sorry for the late repost! I was working hard on my other fics, then I got a short bout of writer's block, and then I forced myself to stop playing video games so I could kick my sorry  back to work. As I mentioned in the subscriber's feed, this is a combination of two former chapters. My old subbies may recall its familiarness. Anyways, thanks for being patient! Excuse me for mistakes and such. 

Reminder: No stealing or plagiarizing or copying or translating my fic! Tell me immediately if someone has done so!

Repost: 7/29/14

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The Invasion

“Onew, hurry! Use the crystal!”

“Aris, hang on!”

“Are the scrolls in place?”

“The seals have been triggered!”

“ARIS!”

Blackness...

...

The night passed without any trouble or news as the queens and princes of EXO waited anxiously in the royal bunker. By their calculations, it was estimated to be around five in the morning. Despite how early it was and how they failed to get some sleep, everyone was up and about, overcome with unsettlement. A thick cloud of disquietude hung over them in the confined space they shared.

The princes weren’t faring so well when it came to their mental states. Yixing was on his feet, pacing back and forth in short strip of space, his gaze unfocused and mind preoccupied. Kai had a finger to his mouth as he gnawed on his lower lip restlessly, his expression blank and reserved. Sehun was huddled up against Luhan on the couch, dozing on and off infrequently while the latter absently played with his hair. Beside the two, Yifan tried to occupy himself by reading, but it was obviously forced by the tense knit between his brows. Tao was seated on the rug by Yifan’s feet, lazily rolling a small ball between his hands. Next to Yifan was Joonmyun, also reading while he hummed unenthusiastic melodies. Chen was drawing halfhearted doodles on a piece of paper, occasionally humming alongside Joonmyun. Off to the corner, Chanyeol was messing around with a candle, languidly waving a finger to flicker the tiny flame on and off. Baekhyun sat with his back pressed up against Chanyeol’s, fiddling with a strip of cloth he took from his mother’s sewing basket. At the table, Kyungsoo watched his mother sew uninterestedly, and Xiumin was seated on his left, with his upper body slumped over the table top; he had lost his appetite long ago.

Queen Ming sighed despondently. It pained her to see the boys so...unanimated as if they were the living dead. Of course, it wasn’t their fault that they were taking shelter in the castle’s bunker. They’d been ordered by King Heechul to stay put until you came back for them.

To add onto their list of unease, it didn’t help that today was the calculated day of the Techas’ invasion. But even if that was so, you had promised to return to the princes, so the boys still had hope, because you always, without fail, kept your promises, for it was your life’s motto to never break them.

Still, as time sluggishly passed by, the fourteen of them, caged in their protective shelter, were knotted up and profoundly quiet. Being pent up wasn’t doing any good to them. None of them had talked since falling asleep that dreadful night. The younger princes had been haunted with nightmares, whimpering as they slept. Light sleepers like Yixing, Xiumin, and Kyungsoo hardly had a wink of sleep, for they spent majority the night staring aimlessly at the ceiling or shifting from side to side in the small bunk beds.

It was strange how a person’s life could change so drastically. Only a few days ago, you were having dinner with them with your annoying brothers glued to your side like leeches. Then out of the blue, you disappeared one morning, and the EXO princes had been kept out of the loop. Now, their lives were in danger by their most fearsome enemy.

But it didn’t matter to them when you could be in danger, too. That’s what worried them the most.

Silently closing his eyes, Luhan rested his cheek against Sehun’s temple and imagined your pale, angelic face, your gentle, bright expression, your intelligent, chocolate-brown eyes, and your soft, sweet voice. Just thinking about you again made his heart clench painfully. He longed to see you again in person—even just a glimpse.

Please be safe and well, Aris...

...

A sharp prick of awareness pierced through the darkness, and you woke up with a violent gasp, having recalled an intense, blinding light and a swell of excruciating pain. Your head swam as you tried to decipher your location with your blurry vision. When your vision finally focused, you saw the familiar crystal surroundings that belonged to the temple where you and your brothers took temporary refuge. Apparently, you were lying on the cool, hard floor with a traveling blanket tucked around your small form.

Awe filtered through your bewildered mind. You did it. You survived the ritual. Though the side effects were less desirable, leaving you to be lightheaded with a weird, bodily sensation. But honestly, who cared about that if you were alive?

“Aris?” gasped a honey-like voice tinged with surprise.

There was a rush of hasty footsteps as you slowly sat up. The noise of it made your head pound as if you had gotten a headache. You disregarded the headache when Taemin’s tearful face came into view.

“Taemin,” you whispered breathlessly. Then you winced when another ache wracked your head. “Ugh,” you groaned.

“Careful,” cautioned the gentle voice of your eldest brother. Onew reached out to tentatively brush his cool fingertips against your forehead; it felt nice and comforting. “You were out since yesterday afternoon,” he told you seriously. “Your body seems fine, but does it function well...?” He trailed off uncertainly, and that uncertainty was reflected on everyone else’s faces.

“Let’s see,” you said hoarsely, then made the move to stand up, but it was a struggle with your weak body. Your brothers reacted to catch you when you rose to your feet with wobbly knees. Your legs were shaking like wooden stilts under an immense amount of weight. You felt out of breath, like you had run a hundred miles without stopping. “Oh, ow,” you whimpered. Just as you were about to topple over, Minho darted forward reflexively and steadied you by wrapping his arms around your limp form.

“Thank you,” you mumbled tiredly and leaned against his sturdier build. In return, he smiled softly and carefully settled you down on the floor. As he did, you finally took notice of the ritual site several meters to your left. The ash and charcoaled etchings had burned away into a permanent circle, but inside its center dominated a large crystal formation. You dropped your gaze when you saw something trapped within the formation—something that seemed frozen and familiar.

Kneeling down, Key coaxed you into drinking some water from a canteen. Taemin and Jonghyun situated themselves on either side of you, providing valuable warmth since you were extremely pale and cold, but you weren’t shivering for some unfathomable reason.

Onew scrutinized you intensely with his glinting crescent eyes. “Hm...” he drawled. “You seem...normal.”

“I don’t feel like it,” you moaned dejectedly, like a sulking child when sick with the flu. You rested your heavy head on Jonghyun’s shoulder and grumbled, “I feel hollow, as if I weigh less than a feather.” But your expression softened as you gazed at all your brothers warmly. “But I’m glad if that’s the only side effect. I remember everything that I should.”

Key cupped your small, delicate hands in his slender ones and rubbed some warmth into your cold fingertips. “Then you did the ritual correctly.” He attempted to grin at you. “Congrats, Little Sister, you completed an impossible spell in only three days.” But, despite his praise, he sounded both relieved and distressed.

You smiled weakly. “Not without help,” you reminded him, but then your serious front returned, disregarding your haggard state. “When do we start on the next spell?”

“I don’t know,” Onew admitted. “But I think it’s best that you take a few hours to rest, Aris. We don’t want to stress your body out so soon.”

His suggestion made you relax unconsciously, your body craving for rest. You concentrated on breathing while Jonghyun hummed soft melodies to calm you. Taemin had one arm draped around your feeble waist, his hand rubbing comforting circles against your hip.

...

‘Are the turbo engines and drives ready?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Then turn them on. Prepare for warp drive.’

‘Roger that.’

‘Also activate the ship’s shields and cloaks. Everything must be according to plan.’

‘I’m on it, sir. Activating shields and cloaks... It’s done. Warp drive will commence in five...four...three...two...one!’

PWOOSH!

...

Out of nowhere, Yesung suddenly froze, and he involuntarily tightened his grip on the pen that he was holding.

In the high chair beside the royal prophet, King Leeteuk saw his friend’s jerky movement out in the corner of his eye and frowned in concern. “Yesung?” he sought out, putting down the map that he was inspecting. “What’s wrong?” Is he having a vision? he questioned himself when there was no response. Then I should probably wait until it passes.

Following his own advice, the king remained silent and patiently waited for some kind of indication that the prophet was freed from the confines of his mind. Mere seconds later, Yesung blinked, and a dazed and frantic expression crossed his face.

“I-I saw more of the invasion,” the prophet blubbered without preamble. “And I also saw that Aris completed the ritual.”

King Leeteuk’s eyes widened. “She finished the ritual?” he exclaimed, blown away by the mere thought of it. Confliction settled in his chest, a war between his feelings of pride and despair for his daughter. What was he supposed to feel if his little girl was jeopardizing herself yet acting noble and heroic at the same time?

Yesung tried to maintain a composed look. “We need to double-check the space sectors now,” he advised. “Use every radar you have. We also need to contact EXO. Be prepared—it’s going to happen soon.”

King Leeteuk nodded in grave understanding and barked out those orders to his subordinates. They scrambled to relay the commands and hurry to their posts.

...

Something was wrong.

This feeling that was latched onto your skin...it was the distinct feeling you got when someone was staring at you, as if they were hovering by your shoulder and breathing down your neck.

Without a single warning, you rushed out of the hidden room that you’ve been contained in for the past few days and into the hall. There, you found one of General Sungmin’s lieutenants guarding the entryway. He jumped in surprise at your sudden, flighty appearance.

“Lieutenant, where’s General Sungmin?” you quickly asked before he could open his mouth to ask what was wrong.

The man straightened up in his posture. “He recently received a message and went to go answer it. It seemed urgent.”

You gritted your teeth as your brothers darted over to your side worriedly. “There’s something that’s not right,” you said agitatedly. “Can you take me outside?”

“Aris?” Key touched your shoulder. “What’s going on?”

Unsure on how to answer him, you only shook your head, a wordless plea for him to wait. The lieutenant ushered the six of you back to the entrance of the crystal temple, hastily navigating through the maze-like corridors. You and your brothers mindfully slipped on the oxygen masks that you had taken off before heading outside.

Now, with a clear view overhead, you stared up into the void known as outer space, the moon’s sky unobstructed without the existences of clouds and flying animals. You narrowed your eyes in deep concentration.

Onew grabbed your wrist. “Aris, can you please tell me what’s going on?” he begged.

“They’re here.”

Your terse response had ominous shivers creep down your brothers’ spines. Minho frowned up at the clear sky. Not a single enemy ship in sight. “There’s nothing out there,” he protested.

You were as rigid as a rock. “Then that means their plan is working.” You whipped your head over to the stunned lieutenant and commanded him with full authority, “Go find General Sungmin and tell them that the Techas are here but hidden within our radars. Go!”

The man hurried off without a question.

You turned around to face your baffled brothers. “We need to start the spell now.”

Our enemy is right under our noses, you thought with a hard expression, but I can sniff them out miles away.

...

A frantic exclamation rang across the war room.

“King Leeteuk! Our transmissions and communications with EXO have been blocked off! We can’t get ahold of them!”

From where he stood hunched over the table with advisors and military officials buzzing around him, King Leeteuk snapped his head up at the shout. “What?!” he yelled, outraged. “How is that possible? When did this happen?”

“I’m not sure, your majesty. It happened only a few minutes ago,” explained the messenger.

The king pursed his lips together troublesomely. “It must be part of the Techas’ plan to prevent us from contacting or aiding EXO,” he surmised edgily. “They don’t want anyone to interfere with their goals.”

Another messenger rushed into the room, looking distressed. “King Leeteuk!” he huffed out. “A spaceship of ours that was nearing EXO had been completely shut down! Our mechanics say it’s a forced black out of some sort!”

“Send out our first fleet of space fighters!” commanded King Leeteuk. “Make our other ships return without fail! Close off any outer space travel! The Techas are here!”

...

The same wave of disruption and hysteria was happening in EXO. A grim piece of news was passed over to the king.

“King Heechul, we have lost communication with SHINee.”

King Heechul clenched his fists together apprehensively. So it has finally started. He shook his head free of any doubts. “Get our fleets of space fighters ready!” he barked. “Contact our space sectors and tell them to locate any disturbances that they may find! Send another message to General Sungmin on Crescent Moon for him to prepare defensive tactics!”

“Yes, your highness!”

King Heechul rubbed the ridge of his nose in vexation. He glimpsed down at the map spread out on the table before him, and his tired, sharp eyes landed on the drawn depiction of one of Two Moons.

I hope Aris can make it on time...

...

The leading ship of one of EXO’s fleet of space fighters carefully flew out into space, being mindful of their coordinates and surroundings. Behind them a few hundred miles away was the ginormous planet that they called home. They had to protect it; it was their duty and pride to.

“Do you see anything?”

“There’s nothing.”

“Be careful. There’s always the possibility that the Techas have acquired invisibility cloaks.”

Then, without warning, the spaceship’s systems and engines whirred and stuttered. Soon, everything died down. The lights shut off, excluding the red emergency light. Anything that was electronic or mechanic was inoperative. At least the oxygen tanks were built to work in tragic times like these.

“What happened?!”

“Our ship was forcibly shut down! We can’t turn it back on!”

“How are the communication systems?”

“Nothing. Just static.”

“Do you know our position on the grid?”

“Yes, and we’re farther out than most...”

“Use the old manual communication system and send a message to base. Tell them to spread the word not to travel this far out in space.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I feel like something is sneaking past us...”

“Wait, do you hear that? It’s right outside.”

“...”

“A...hum? No, something large is moving past us.”

“It’s the Techas! They’re passing right by us!”

“Curse it! Hurry up with those messages!”

...

In a crystal room set up as a make-shift command post, General Sungmin was hunched over a table examining a space grid map. Around him, his subordinates were in an urgent rush, throwing shouts at each other and hurrying to carry out orders.

“General!” someone cried out. “Our communication system has been tampered with! We have no other choice but to revert to the old manual system using codes!”

“There’s an urgent message from King Heechul!” someone else hastily added, jotting down the specifics on paper before reading it out loud. “He says to begin defensive tactics pronto! The Techas are within our grid!”

General Sungmin nodded brusquely, then raised his voice to holler over the noise that everyone was making. “Alright! You know what to do! For those positioned at the forts and hangers, prepare the spaceships and any long-range weapon we have! But, other than that, our main priority is to quickly set up the Electric Net! Is that understood?”

“Yes, sir!”

His plans managed to postpone the advancement of the Techcron Army when the Electric Net was activated. To employ such an elaborate, high-scale apparatus was actually very simple due to EXO’s cunning technology and their top-rate engineers. Palm-sized mechanical kinks were first shot out into a space, their positions based on EXO’s space grid. Then, when , a current of electricity connected each kink together and thus created a super large net. It didn’t cover the entire planet, but it definitely protected most of it from direct attacks, and the spotted openings that the net left allowed the EXO Army an obvious place to target if enemies decided to risk entry into their atmosphere.

The electric currents of the net disrupted the invisibility cloak that shrouded the Techa ships. Therefore, it revealed their locations and size. On Crescent Moon, those who watched the heavens through telescopes gasped at the sight.

“I see the Techa ships!” exclaimed a space-watcher. “They’re even more advanced and larger than before!”

“Curse it!” snapped another person. “Some ships got through the Net! Our fleets can’t do anything about them when they’re inoperative!”

It was true. Out of two dozen Techa ships, four of them had stealthily snuck past the Net just before it was activated. They didn’t bother to destroy the vulnerable EXO ships when they were useless in their nulled states. In fact, the enemy flew straight past them, indicating that they wanted to conserve their energy and power.

“Everyone! Get into your positons! We need to shoot down the enemy now!”

“The Volt Blaster is ready to fire!”

...

“Wh—what was that?” Taemin asked fretfully when a loud blast followed up by a thundering explosion resonated throughout the halls and rooms of the crystal temple.

“General Sungmin is playing his part in the war,” you answered calmly, but with a terse edge.

There was more sounds of rumbling and explosions. It was really loud and clear, as if the fighting was right outside the temple, but it was because the moon had no thick atmosphere to repel outward disturbances. Not only that, it was located between the Electric Net and EXO Planet, which meant that it was right in the middle of the advancing Techas and the defensive EXO.

Key clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention. “Come on, guys! We need to hurry up with the spell! Aris, use your magic circle! We’ll transfer our magic through it to you!”

You nodded. “Right!” And your brothers backed up to give you enough space for the spell just in case.

“Make sure to say the incantation correctly!” Minho warned.

“And don’t get sloppy with the hand signs!” Jonghyun added.

“Good luck!” Onew shouted encouragingly.

You shut your eyes and concentrated hard—the hardest you’ve ever did in your life. It was absolutely imperative that you did not mess up. After exhaling a calming breath, you slapped your palms together, and, underneath your feet, your magic circle appeared with a luminous glow, its three decorative rings rotating around in different directions—counterclockwise in the center ring and clockwise in the outer and inner ring. At first, your brothers were awestruck at the sight of your magic circle; it’d been so long since they’ve seen one. In their planet, only the most powerful of sorcerers had the privilege to possess one. It was a symbol that acted like a family crest of some sorts, depicting a sorcerer’s strength and skill like a story book.

The moment of awe quickly passed, and your brothers slapped their palms onto the crystal floor, just an inch before the circumference of the circle. Waves of their leftover magic were in, and then the sacred inscriptions and intricate drawings that created the magic circle blared with life, the blue-white color of your magic illuminating the entire room. You instantly felt energized and full of power. Now enriched with energy, you focused on the spell. Precise and sharp, you formed the hand signs and murmured the incantation to activate the spell. From your spinning, shining circle, your magic poured out in boundless ribbons. Those magic ribbons s upwards to wrap around your body until you were completely encased.

I am a child no longer.

The encasing of magic glowed a vibrant white.

...

King Heechul stared out the window in astonishment, his lips parted in shock. Up in the sky, he could see gray blobs descending lower until they hovered above the planet’s surface. One ship opened its hatches, and half a dozen torrent machines emerged out. The machines were charged up before releasing a ray of destructive power.

BOOM!

King Heechul growled under his breath.

They have attacked.

...